AMONG the ways in developing more innovations in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry is to be able to recognize the efforts of startup businesses in using technological innovation through awards and conducting competitions, a business leader said.

“There is a need to come across technological platforms in engaging developments. We want to see the ICT being nurtured as an industry that’s why we are looking on giving awards and giving competitions the whole year round,” Brunei company Suhbee Co. president Pg Sarimah Pg Hj Latiff said in an interview during the Livex 2018 Innovation Summit at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

Latiff underscored the importance in engaging the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) in ICT. In this way, Latiff added this would even empower not only the technological industry but also the entrepreneurial sector of BIMP-Eaga.

“We are looking for nominations in the following categories: best startup of the year, artificial intelligence (AI) data engineering, IoT (Internet of Things), even projects which can affect the society in a good way,” Latiff said.

Alongside with the call to nominations for the respective awards are seminars and trainings for the ICT participants to learn more about technological innovations.

“That’s why we are doing this because we want to know more people who are doing developments on, let’s say, AI engineering. Now, we don’t know much that’s we are having this,” Latiff said.

Meanwhile, Latiff added the innovation summit is a call for concrete

action to empower Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through patronizing their business through technology.

The BIMP-Eaga Hub Awards will be conducted by the end of 2019.